The Great Eastern

Join us as we travel from Ancient Greece, where the Olympics were first held, to modern-day Prague. We'll follow the torch on this incredible tour of Europe’s greatest cities and most spectacular scenery. From the island paradise of Mykonos and rugged beauty of Croatia, the cobbled streets of Budapest and spires of Prague, this is the gold-medal standard of Europe tours!

Next stop, Tirana! Your Trip Leader will clue you up on everything you need to know about this former hardline communist state. Add a splash of colour to your Insta story today as you take a wander around.

Press your nose to the window and soak up all the stunning views that race past the coach window as we head up Montenegro’s coast on our way to the most famous walled city in Europe (stopping at Budva on the way). Later, we’ll take a wander around Dubrovnik's tiny cobblestoned streets and explore a few hidden cafés and shops before grabbing dinner and checking out the glitzy nightlife.

Included today:
-Visit Budva
-Walking tour of Dubrovnik with a local guide

Yay! A free day in Dubrovnik! Spend some time checking out the residential homes further up in the Old Town for some awesome views, then relish a cold beer on the wall as the sun sets over the Adriatic. Alternatively, take to the turquoise water with a spot of optional sea kayaking around the city walls. This is the good life.

Roll out of Dubrovnik and into Sarajevo, a city that’s still shaking off its tragic past – but first, there’s just enough time for a pit stop in historic Mostar. When we reach Sarajevo, we’ll show you the sights on a guided tour and round off the day with some delicious local food.

Gritty but charming Belgrade is up next. Honour the victims of the 1995 genocide at the haunting Srebrenica Genocide Memorial, a sobering reminder of the greatest atrocity on European soil since the Second World War.

Included today:
-Walking tour of Belgrade
-Visit the Srebrenica Memorial

Hungary for more? Budapest is up next! A driving tour will get you down and Danube (that being the river) with twin cities Buda and Pest. Check out Hero's Square, Parliament House, the National Palace, Fisherman's Bastion and the swanky Andrássy Avenue. Then it's time to meet the major food groups: goulash, cabbage rolls and dumplings.

A free day to take on a city with enough baroque, neoclassical and art nouveau architecture to keep you entertained for hours. Tonight, hang with the hipsters and drink local fruit brandy at one of the original ruin bars. Wanna go one step further? An optional dinner cruise on the Danube has your name on it.

Prepare your retinas – there’s gonna be some amazing scenery playing outside the coach windows today as we make our way to Vienna. Don’t forget to wave hello to the President as we go past the Hofburg Palace! Vienna is famous for three things: musicians, grand coffee houses and, of course, apple strudel. Classical music fans, opt in for a night out to hear the works of Mozart, Beethoven, Bach and Strauss at the Viennese Chamber Orchestra.

First, a visit to former concentration camp Mauthausen for a lesson in the resilience of humanity. Then, on to Prague. Get Insta-happy and seek out the John Lennon Wall, soak up some Czech history at the National or Communist Museum or get a taste of the quirky local culture at a marionette puppet opera (you gotta see it to believe it).

Another free day for the win. Snap a selfie at Prague's own Eiffel Tower, visit a miniatures museum, eat roast pork from one of the street vendors lining Old Town Square and wash it all down with a beer. As in, a really good beer. Prague, we love you.

Hostel Plus trips host our most eclectic types of accommodation. While modern hostels make up the majority of your overnighters you could also stay in hotels (free upgrade – yeah!), Austrian Gasthofs, canvas cabins, ferry cabins or bungalows.

The ‘More Inclusions’ section details what type of accommodation will be used for overnight stops on your trip.

The number of people to a room on Hostel Plus trips will vary. For hostels you will have multi-share rooms and usually share with between 3 and 5 others (although in some circumstances you will share with more than 5) while in hotels there will be twin or triple-shares (and the odd quad-room). The number of people sharing in bungalows, canvas cabins, ferry cabins and Austrian Gasthofs can vary.

Please note: When staying on a Hostel Plus trip, multi-share accommodation is single-sex. You will also need to bring your own towels with you as these are not provided by all of our hostels.

Your included meals are detailed in the 'More Inclusions' section of this document.

Breakfasts are included every day (except on the first morning). They are usually 'continental breakfasts', which are typical in most European countries. A typical breakfast may consist of cereals with milk or yoghurt, bread, croissants, cold meats, cheese and a range of spreads, with fruit juice, tea or coffee to drink. It is rare to get a hot breakfast in continental Europe, though on some occasions there may be some hot food available as well.

Included meals will be a combination of those prepared by Topdeck On-Site Chefs, local restaurants and places in which we stay. Included evening meals are in local restaurants or accommodations, and are either two or three courses. In most cases table water is provided with the meals, and if you wish to purchase additional drinks you can do so at your own expense.

If you have any dietary requirements we will make every effort to cater to your specific needs as long as you advise your travel agent or Customer Service Consultant when you book, or make note of this in the Topdeck app when you check in (refer below). However, please be aware that although we will do everything in our power to arrange it, we cannot guarantee that every restaurant we use will be able to cater to all dietary needs, particularly in Eastern Europe. We also cannot cater for tastes or dislikes, as most of our included evening meals feature a set menu.

Your Topdeck crew never expect tips themselves and will not ask for any; that’s not what friends do! We also know how much tipping can cost you. So go ahead, spoil yourself with the money you will save by travelling with Topdeck (just don’t forget Mum’s souvenir).

Our travel app has landed! With a range of awesome features including a Currency Converter, Budget Tracker, Check-In tool and Social Timeline you can plan your trip like a pro. Think of it like your very own Topdeck Trip Leader, always on call with the latest info, weather, maps and city guides to give you the trip of a lifetime, all in the palm of your hand.

Please note: The Topdeck Travel App should only be downloaded once you have booked onto your trip. You will not be able to log in unless you have a Topdeck Booking Reference Number.

One of the best parts of travelling is experiencing the nightlife and entertainment each city has to offer. However, amidst the fun and excitement, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and personal safety as well. Before you hit the road with us, it’s important to be aware of the following:

When you’re on a night out, remember to avoid walking alone, particularly through deserted areas like beaches and back streets. Always stick together, take a taxi where possible, and keep a note of your accommodation details so you can find your way back to your fellow Topdeckers if you become separated.

In some countries, alcoholic measures can be considerably larger than what you may be used to. Try to keep track of what you’re drinking, and if you see one of your trip mates looking a little worse for wear, take them back to your accommodation. Be cautious when accepting drinks from strangers and never leave your drink unattended.

It’s also important to be aware that what you might consider harmless flirting may be interpreted differently in some countries. Be yourself and have fun, but don’t be naïve, and be mindful of the signals you are sending out so that you don’t find yourself in an uncomfortable situation.